ITALY MOVING ON EU BATTLEGROUPS WITH AN EYE TOWARD

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003642 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2014 TAGS: PREL IT NATO EUN SUBJECT: ITALY MOVING ON EU BATTLEGROUPS WITH AN EYE TOWARD "ALL-NATO" GROUPINGS Classified By: ACTING DCM TOM COUNTRYMAN, REASONS 1.4 B AND D. (C) A/DCM and A/PolMinCouns met September 21 with Francesco Trupiano, Diplomatic Advisor to the Italian Minister of Defense. Trupiano informed us that Italy had just signed an EU battlegroup agreement with Hungary and Slovenia, and in October would begin discussing at the staff level the formation of an amphibious battlegroup with Spain, Greece and Portugal. Trupiano noted that while some EU members, and one in particular, had initially viewed the EU battlegroups as fixed and separate entities, Italy was committed to avoiding duplication with NATO NRF structures, ensuring harmonization with NATO efforts and operating under Berlin Plus. In addition, he pointed out, Italy was intentionally crafting battlegroups comprised entirely of NATO members without the participation of those most interested in separate EU forces. SEMBLER NNNN 2004ROME03642 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL